Sheriff Bob Peryam’s efforts to make the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office “greener” are paying off.

In April of 2009, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office began emphasizing the need to recycle at its offices county-wide. The effort paid off in real dollars. During those eight months in 2009, the Sheriff’s Office recycled 19.4 tons of paper, cardboard, plastic and aluminum. The cost savings to the office was $3,800.00 in that period.

“We compared our waste disposal bills to make sure our recycling efforts weren’t costing more in taxpayer dollars. Being a government agency funded by tax dollars, we have to be cognizant of how our new programs are effecting our bottom line. We found that, since we are disposing of less waste due to our recycling efforts, we are saving taxpayer dollars,” said Sheriff Peryam. “It is a win-win program – we are doing our bit for the environment, and saving money.”

“We are currently in the process of planning for an energy audit of all of our facilities to see where else we can make improvements,” he said.

Other ways the office has “gone green”:

Purchased four hybrid vehicles which use electricity in addition to gasoline.

Old records are currently being scanned, after which they are shredded and recycled

Moving to on-line training which saves on travel time and gas. Less travel time to training means more time on patrol or on duty stations.

Video conferencing. Allows employees to meet without driving long distances to do so. Saves travel time, and gas. Less time spent traveling means more time at duty stations.

February 11, 2010

Drug Drop program: Environmentally friendly way to dispose of medications

The Sheriff’s Office kicked off this new program at a recent meeting of the
Harry Harris Homeowners Association. Here is Sheriff’s Captain Lou Caputo
showing off the drug collection bin with Homeowners Association President Jerry Wilkinson.

Upper Keys - The upper Keys Sheriff's substation is starting a new, environmentally friendly program to allow people to dispose safely of no-longer-needed prescription drugs and other medications.

Captain Lou Caputo and Lt. Nancy Alvarez will allow citizens to drop off old medications at the Roth Substation on Plantation Key during business hours. They will then be burned by Detective Sgt. Bobby Randolph, who operates the Sheriff's Burn Unit and who holds a special license to burn narcotics.

"We will also pick up old medications, as time allows," said Lt. Nancy Alvarez. "All people have to do is call us and let us know where to pick them up," she said.

She cautioned people who are going to bring their medications in themselves to make sure and keep prescriptions in the prescription bottle to show proof the prescription is legitimately theirs. "Technically, it is illegal to carry prescription medications around without proof it is prescribed to you," she said. "We'd hate to have someone arrested on their way in to drop the stuff off," she added.

People who call to have medications picked up can do so with no questions asked. "Our goal here is to dispose of this stuff properly, not to catch people with illegal pills," she said.

Proper disposal of prescription and over the counter medications is important. Flushing them down the toilet or sink can introduce dangerous and environmentally damaging substances into the water system; throwing them away in the trash can also introduce them into the environment, and runs the risk of them winding up in the wrong hands.

If you are part of an organization, like a Crime Watch group or a Homeowners Association, and would like us to collect old medications at one of your meetings, call 305-853-3211 and ask for Lt. Alvarez or Captain Caputo.

February 8, 2010

Visit the Animal Farm for Valentine’s Day

On Sunday, bring your Valentine to the Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm and make it a special day.

Everyone is invited to visit the Sheriff’s Animal Farm Sunday, February 14th between 1 and 3 p.m. The farm is a terrific family activity that is FREE OF CHARGE. Donations are, of course, greatly appreciated because they help keep the animal’s habitats in good repair and help pay for food and upkeep at the farm.

The farm is permitted and certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and recently passed it’s yearly inspection with flying colors. USDA Regional Inspector Dr. Mary Moore told Farm Supervisor Jeanne Selander she enjoys coming to the farm because it is always in such excellent condition. She commented, in particular, on how impressed she was with the new alligator habitat at the farm.

The farm has about 250 animals of all kinds and is truly a wonderful place for children and adults alike. The farm is open second and fourth Sundays of every month. Groups may schedule special trips by contacting Farmer Selander at 305-293-7300. The farm is located underneath the Monroe County Detention Center, off of College Road on Stock Island.